Liquid-level controller.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 PATENTBD 001-2, 1906. s. A. REEVE & E. P. NOYES. LIQUIDLEVEL CONTROLLER.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.23.1904

No. 832,081. PATENTED OCT. 2, 1906. S. A. REEVE & B. P. NOYES.

LIQUID LEVEL CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23, 1904.

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SIDNEY A. REEVE, OF WORCESTER, AND EDWARD P. NOYES, OF WINCHES ER,MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO- CHARLES F. 'BROVZN, TRUSTEE, OF READING,MASSACHUSETTS.

LEQUED=LEVEL QQNTRQLLER Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Got. 2, 1.906.

Application filed April 23, 1904. Serial No. 204,592.

To all whom it nuty concern.-

Be it known that we, SIDNEYA. REEVE, of Worcester, in the county oflVorcester, and EDWARD P. NoYEs, of Winchester, in the county ofMiddlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful1mprovements in Liquid-Level Controllers, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to apparatus for controlling the inflow to orexit from a pressure chamber or vessel of liquid or gaseous fluid; andits object is to provide an improved device of this kind whereby apredetermined liquid-level or a predetermined volume of gaseous fluidmay be automatically maintained in the pressure vessel or other usefulfunction performed with reference to the vessel.

The invention as hereinafter specifically described involves thedifferential action 'of a constant pressure and a variable ressure onopposite sides of a movable mem er, such as a diaphragm, and it furtherinvolves the action of means such as a dip-tube attached tothisdiaphragm, whereby the opening or closing movements of the valves orother mechan ism controlled by the diaphragm is rendered uniform insteadof jerky and spasmodic.

The invention still further involves, the employment of a'plurality ofdevices of the described kind in combination in such manner as tocontrol one by the action of the other and provide for variousconditions within and without the pressure vessel, as will more fully apear.

Of t 1e accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a sectional diarammatic view of, an apparatus constructe according to our invention.Fig. 2 represents a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents adetail side elevation of the upper part of the diptube in one of thecontrolling devices and of meansfor rotating said tube to adjust'its vertical height. Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 3. Figs. 4to 7, inclusive, are dia rammatic sectional views representingmodifications.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all thefigures.

In the drawings, 1 is a pressure vessel adapt.- ed to inclose liquid andgaseous contents in the lower and upper portions thereofirespectively.The liquid might be water and same level in vessel 1.

the gaseous fluid steam, as in a steam-boiler. The gaseous fluid may beother than the Vapor of a liquid, as would be the case, for example, inone of the two chambers shown in Reeve patent, No. 588,178, August17,1897,

, showing air and gas chambers connected by water seal. A pump 3supplies liquidto the vessel 1 from a suction-pipe 130 through a'delivery-pipe 4.

100 is a second inflow-pipe for liquid or gaseous fluid, which mightcome from a conensing or other system, 200 is a main exitpipe for thegaseous fluid, and 300 is an inlet to the lower part of the vesseladapted to connect, for instance, with a chamber such as hereinbeforementioned, as described in the aforesaid Patent No. 588,178.

2 is a chamber connecting by pipes 120-150 with the lower and upperparts of the vessel 1, whereby liquid is maintained at the The chamber 2we consider practically a part or extension of the vessel 1 by reason ofthe pipes 120 150,

and in someinstances the controller may be built directly on the vesselwhose contents are to be controlled, in which case the chamber 2 wouldmerge with said vessel. Said chamber 2 connects at its upper end with alower diaphragm-chamber 22, the chambers 2 and 22 being ractically'onechamber. The

latter is inclu ed in a ca'sih containing the- .diaphragm 6, on theupperside of which is a second or upper diaphragm chainber 23-. A hollowrod or tube7, having hole's 8 8;, making it a skeleton structure,connects with the diaphragm at its upper end, and its extension!),passing with a snug fitthrough a partition 10, connects with a by-passvalve 11. The latter controls the exit from a chamber 5,.con-

necting b pipe 140 with the delivery of the pump an a by-pass pipe 33,leading back to I the suction side of the pump.

18 20 represents a double dip-tube composed of outer and inner sectionsconnected by bridges-21 and supported by the diaphragm- 6, said tubehaving a threaded connection 160 with the hub of the diaphragm andpass.- ing through a stufiinglbox 19 thereon to prevent leakage from camber to chamber of.

the diaphragm-casing. A connection permitting upward and downwardmovement and rotary ad'ustment of the tube 18 20 for the purpose 0adjusting its vertical position with respect to the 'diaphra m 6 isafforded by hand-wheel 24, having a orked extension 27 within the domeof the upper diaphragmchamber engaging pins 28'on the tube 18. A column12, erected on the diaphragm, supports a valve 14, which controls avalve-seat at the bottom of a duct in the stem of the hand-wheel 24,said valve being formed on a plate 13, which is rotatable on the column12 and has apertures for the passage of the forked extension 27. Aspring 15, hearing on the upper end of the column 12, tends to hold thevalve 14 open and the valve 11 closed. An extension 29 of the stem ofvalve 11 passes through the lower end of the controler-casing and isconnected by lever with a clutch 230, which affords a connection betweenthe pump 3 and its (hiring-shaft. The duct through the stem 25 ofhand-wheel 24 connects by a swivel-joint 26 with a leakpipe 34, havingstop-valve 35.

Assuming a small vent through valve and assuming that the vessel 1 werea steamboiler with the water-level below the orifice of dip-tube 18 2,0and the pump 3 delivering water to the vessel 1, so as to raise thewaterlevel, it is evident that when the water-level has risen to coverthe ends of tube 18 20 the steam-pressure in vessel 1 and chamber 2 willbe shut ofi from the upper diaphragm-chamber 23 and the pressure in saiddiaphragmchamber will be reduced by leakage past valve 35. While aminute leakage is the preferred means of reducing the pressure in theupper diaphra chamber after the water has covered thei et to saidchamber andwe consider that this expedient has many advantages, we donot wholly confine ourselves thereto. .(Jondensation of the steam willalso of course aid in reducing the pressure. The water then rises intube 18 20 to a height dependin upon the difference in thefluid-pressures afiove and below the diaphragm. The predominatinpressure in the lower diaphragm-cham er 22 tends to raise the diaphragm6 and. open the by-pass valve 11. Elevation of the diaphragm brings thelower end of tube 18 20 out of the water in the chamber 2, thus vent'said tubes of their water column, and te rl ds to establish pressureequality in the upper and lower diaphragm-chambers 23 22. The valve 11will therefore open only all htly. If the waterlevel continues to rise,1: e above action is repeated and a further opening of the valve 1].takes place until such opening is suflicient to bypass enough water fromthe delivery of pump 3 to prevent further rise in the vessel' 1 andchamber'2. Thus it will be seen that the dia hragmhas a plurality ofpositions of e u' 'brium or balanced pressure correspon g to slightlydiflerent liquid-levels. The covering of the dip-tube destroys thepressure e uilibrium and the raisin of the inlet of sai tube out ofwater neutra 'zes the eeaosr force which destroyed said equilibrium.This is an important feature, for although our invention is operativeand useful without it the use of the movable inlet prevents seesawing ofthe diaphragm and enables it to work frequently and without violentmove. ments. It will be noted that the dip-tube 18 20 constitutes atemporary reservoir for the storage of some of the water in vessel 1 andchamber 2 when the lower end of said tube is covered. Continued upwardmovement of the diaphragm 6 releases clutch 230 and stops the action ofthe pump. Extreme upward movement of the diaphragm closes the valve 14against its seat and prevents any further venting of steam through thepipe 34, which latter, it may be remarked, leads to any suitablelocality of lower pressure than the pressure carried in the vessel 1.Vertical adjustment of the dip-tube 18 20 in the diaphragm 6 effected byrotating the handwheel 24 obviously varies the normal water level byvarying the normal position of the lower end of tube 18 20.

37 is a second chamber connected by pipes 210 220 with the upper andlower parts of the vessel 1 for keeping a level in'37 the same as in 1,said chamber 37 connectin with a chamber 42 on the under side of aiaphragm 40. 43 is a chamber above said diaphragm communicating with thelower part of chamber 37 through the interior of a double dip-tube 38380, similar to tube 18 20, and preferably having its inlet end at aslightly lower level than the inlet end of tube 18 20. Diaphragm carriesa downwardly-seating valve 39, controlling exit from chamber 43 to anoutletpipe 41, which may connect with any lowerressure locality or withthe pipe 34, and-on its lower side through an extension 180 of the outertube 38 the diaphragm connects with an upwardly-seating valve 51,controlling inflow to vessel 1, but not controlling the feed-water inpipe 130. Extension-rod 180 has va sliding fit in a downwardly-seatingcheck-valve 50, which prevents backflow from vessel 1 into thesuction-pipe 130. A downwardly-acting s ring 44 tends to seat valve 39and open va vs 51. A minute vent from chamber 43 to pipe 41 iscontrolled by a valve 47, and the latter connects by rod 55, bellcrank56, rod 57, and bell-crank 58 with the stem 29, attached to diaphragm 6.A rise of the rod due to depression of diaphragm 6 tends to openvent-valve 47. There may be a slight differential of upward pressurecausing valve 39 to act as a'safetyvalve, if desired.

The diaphragm 40 is connected by a stem 46, assing outside of the upperend of control er-casing with a vent-valve 36 in the pipe 34, which isnormally closed when dia phragm 40 is depressed and opens when saiddiaphragm rises.

53 is a valve in the suction-pipe 130 of the esaos r pressure in 130, atwhich time the pipe 130 acts asa natural-flow conduit, the valve 51 hasno function.

In the conjoint operation of the two diaphragm devices shown on oppositesides of the vessel- 1 the leakage -'valve is preferably wide open andits function performed by the automatically-controlled valve 36. It isevident that the diaphragm 6 cannot operate until there is a ventthrough 36, and this will not occur unless the li uid is above the levelof'the lower end of ip tub'e 38 380.

When such condition occurs,

there bein a vent through valve47, the lower end of tube 38 380.iscovered, pressure decreases in diaphragm-chamber 43, and liquid rises inthe dip-tube. The diaphragm'40 rises, opening va ves 39 and 36, and thediaphragm G is put in condition for operation. arts may be soproportioned that the mainsdeterrent to furacting as that of agas-trapthat is to say,-

ther rise of liquid-level in 1 is at first an es ca 9 ofliquid throughpipe 41 past the open va vs 39, said liquid rising through the tube 38380. resulting in the covering of t e lower endof diptube 18 20 is'followedb rise of the diaphragm 6 and by-passing 0 liquid from thepump-delivery past valve 11. An extreme rise of diaphragm 6 results indisengaging.

clutch 230 and stopping the urn in the manner hereinbeiore described.diich extreme rise further results in closing the valve 14 and the valve47 thus stopping all vent past these valves.

In the event of superior pressure in supplypipe 130 the valve 53 closesand cuts out the pump, and entrance of liquid from pi e 130 into thevessel 1 is controlled by va vs 51, said valve tending to close when theliquidlevel has risen to cover the end oidip-tube 38 380 and cause therise of diaphragm 40.

If it is desired to control the volumes of a gaseous fluid entering thevessel 1, the valve 14 controls the exit of said fluid, saidvalve whengaseous ressure depresses the liquidlevel in vessel 1, forcing theliquid out through 300,. tube 18 20 will be uncovered and diaphra m 6depressed, permitting the aseous flui to escape past valve 14. Wheniquid-level is restored to normal by a reduction of gaseous pressure andvolume, the liquid covers inlet of tube 18 20 and diaphragm A furtherrise of li uid in vessel 1 f'double dip-tube.

above the diaphragm is no disadvantage; but the pipe "-330, hereinafterdescribed, might obviously have its upper end at alower level than shownto fully drain the uptr ation.

rises and closes valve 14. It will thus be seen that under variousconditions of supply and pressure in the interior of and external to thevessel 1 theap aratus described effectively controls both 1 quid-leveland gaseous volume.

Should the vessel 1 be an internal-combustion generator, suchas shown inthe aforesaid Patent No. 588,178, having an output of non-condensableproducts of combustion, a supplemental action takes place in the chamber23 or 43 when the inlet end of either dip-tube 18 20 or 38 380 iscovered. In such case the pressure drop in 2301 43 is aided by thecooling of the non-condensable gases in said chamber. The. abstractionof dition of fins to the walls of the chambers, as represented at 111 inconnection with the chamber 28 in Fig. 1.

It will be noted that the tubes 20 and 380 have their inlets sli htlybelow the inlets of tubes 18 and 38. T e object of this is to facilitatethe emptying of these tubes of liquid when their ends are uncovered.Thegaseous fluid and the liquidhave separate avenues of ascent anddescent, the former tending to ascend through the outer tube 18 or 38and the latter'to descend through the inner tube -20 or 380. When thewater-level falls below '18, the pressure blows the contents of tube 18up into the upper diaphragm-chamber 23, while the contents of tube 20fall back into the lower part of chamber 2. This construction greatlyfacilitates the venting of the A body or lake of water perdiaphragm-chamber, if desired.

Figs. 4 to'7, inclusive, represent various combinations of valvescontrolled according to our invention. In these "figures, 1 indicatesthe pressure vessel in each instance, the

inflow and outflow pipes for the supply and exit of fluids being omittedfrom the illus- In Fig. 4 the diaphragm conheat from these gases isfacilitated by the adtrols oppositely-seating valves 61 62, similar tothe valves 11 and 14 in Fig. 1, the valve 61, however, being above thelevel of. liquid in vessel 1. The upper diaphragmchamber is connectedwith vessel 1 by pipe 63v at a lower level Z, and the lowerdiaphragm-chamber is connected b pipe 64 at an upper level Z. If li uidis be ow the level Z or above the level I, t e fluid-pressures areequalized on opposite sides of the diaphragm and spring 65 closes valve61 and opens valve 62. When the liquid-level is between the lines l andZ, the pressure below the diaphragm predominates, closing upper valvev82 andopenin'g lower valve 61. Fig. 5 shows an upper downwardly-closingvalve 66 and a lower upwardly-closing valve 67. Fig. 6

illustrates upper and lower upwardly-closing valves 62 and 67. Fig. 7shows upper and lower downwardly closing valves 66 61.

Thus far the apparatus has been described as maintaining a substantiallyconstant liq-,

uid-level. Either controller, however, may be equipped as a trap adaptedto effect an intermittent discharge between predetermined maximum andminimum liquid-levels. To efiect this, the upper diaphragm-chamber 23inaddition to the inlet which it has from the vessel 1 through tube 1820 by way of certain openings 342 343, near the upper ends of saidtubes, has a lower-level inlet from the pressure vessel by way of a pipe330, connecting chamber 23 with the lower part of chamber or casing 2.Pipe 330 has a stop-valve 335 and several branches 331, connecting withchamber 2 at different heights and equipped with stop-valves 332,whereby a single one only of these branches may be in use at one time.

334, Fig. 3, represents .one of two valve portions on the forks of thetube-rotating member 27, which act as valves controlling the ports oropenings 342. By the rotation of member 27 these valve portions may bebrought either. into or out of line with the path of movement of ports342, thus making the valve portions operative or inoperative at will.Wide slots 336 for the pins 23 afford lost motion, which allows thevalve-adjusting rotary movement of member 27 to take place withoutrotating the tube 13.

When the pipe 330 and the valve portions 334 are in commission, thevalve 11 may be utilized to control the discharge from vessel 1 andchamber 2 through pipe 33 and valved discharge branch 340, the pump 3,if desired, being cut out by stop-valves 337 338. When the valve 11 actsas .a dischargavalve, it is necessary to open communication betweenchambers 2 and 5, for which purpose there is provided a passage 350in'the partition 10, controlled by a stop-valve 351. This passage ispreferably of smaller aperture or cross section than the outletcontrolled by valve 11., but is sufilcient to handle the maximumdischarge for which the trap is designed. This reduces the velocity pastthe valve by a contracted passage antecedent to the valve, and thusavoids cutting of the valve-seat, which is an objection in many traps.

Assuming one of the branches 331 of pipe 330 to be opcnand the othersclosed, it is evident that as liquid accumulates and rises in chamber 2it will have no eifect on the pressure in-chamber 23, as this ismaintained through the ports 342. Vihen liquid has accumulated enough tocover the of diptube 18 20, a difference of pressure established betweenchambers and 23 and the diaphragm 6 rises and opens the discharge valvell. This rise of the diap gm also 65 causes valve portions 334 to sineorts 342 ssacsi without affecting the pipe 330, since the diaphragmindependently controls the dip-tube inlet to the upperdiaphragm-chamber. It is now evident that the normal pressure in chamber23 can only be restored througlh pipe 330, and therefore when theliquid. fa below tube 18 20 the diaphragm 6 does not drop, but keeps thevalve 11 open until that branch 331 which is open has been uncovered.Pressure is then restored in chamber 23 and valve 11 closed.- The pipe330 may be kept open through one or more of its branches even whentheapparatus is not acting as a trap in order to drain the upperdiaphragm-chamber 23, as previously described.

A useful feature in the construction and arrangement of our controllerconsists in the location of the diaphragm and the pumpvalve'at remotepoints, so that the former may be above the water-level and the latterbelow, making it unnecessary to carry the water-pipe and valve above thewater-line, and also the provision of a simple hydraulic packing in thepartition separating the boiler section of the controller-casing fromthe pump-valve chamber which enables the valvestem to work with greatfreedom, but which would be diiiicult to maintain if the valve were atthe same end of the casing as the unsubmerged diaphragm.

In. this application we do' not broadly claim the controller in itsgeneric form, but have confined ourselves to certain specific featuresand combinations thereof. The main structure although here showntogether with said features and combinations is made the subject of aseparate application, Serial. No. 282,286, filed in part substitutionfor the resent application.

l. in a liquid-level controller, the combination of a pair ofpressure-chambers, one of which has an inlet subject to the level at theliquid to be controlled and a leakage-outlet, and means subjectdifferentially to the pressures in said chambers for controlling saidoutlet. I

2. In a liquid-level controller, the combination of a pair ofpressurechambers, movable partition separating a two, an inlet to one ofsaid chambers a apted to be alternately covered and uncc erred by liquidwhose level is to be controlled, e outlet from said chamber, and a valveact said partition and adapted to close let by the movement of saidpartition caused by the covering of said In a liquid-level co oller, the

combinep-ion of casing provi L with r hers relative pressure is ontrolleliquid-level, one of said chambers he.

connection therewith, an externally-acces sible rotary adjuster mountedon said casing and having a connection with said tube for to theliquid-level therein and an outlet, and

means operated by diiierences in pressure in said chamber caused byvariations in the liquid-level in said vessel for controlling saidoutlet.

5. In a liquid-level controller, the combination of a pressure vessel, apluralit of devices separately controlled by the lhvel of liquid in saidvessel and controlling said level, and means whereby one of said devicesrenders the other operative and inoperative. 6. In a liquid-levelcontroller, the combi' nation of a pressure vessel, a chamber having aninlet from said vessel subject to the liquidlevel therein and an outlet,a differential member actuated by the pressure in said chamber andcontrolling said level, a second differential member subject to thevesselpressure and controlled by the liquid-level,

and a valve controlled by said second member and controlling saidoutlet.

7. In a liquid-level controller, the combination of a pressure vesselhaving an outlet and a liquid-inlet, and devices, one of which controlsthe operation of the other and both controlled by the level of liquid insaid chamber for controllin inflow of liquid thereto and outflow offluid therefrom.

8. In a liquid-level controller, the combination of a pressure vesselhaving means to suppl it with liquid, a li uid-outlet, and a lura ity ofdevices contro ed by the liquidevel in said vessel, one of whichcontrols the supply of liquid to said chamber and the ot er the exit ofliquid therefrom, one of said devices controlling the operation of theother.

9. In a liquid-level controller, the combination of a pressure vessel, aplurality of chambers havin inlets from said vessel adapted to be aternately covered and uncovered by the liquid therein, a plurality ofmovable members subject to the pressures in said chambers, outlets-fromsaid chambers, and valves controlling said outlets, the valve of eachchamber being controlled by the movable member of the other chamber.

10. In a liquid-level controller, the combination of a pressure vesselhaving a naturalilow liquid-supply conduit, a ump connected with saidvessel for supp ying liquid to the latter, means controlled by theliquidlevel in said chamber and controlling the pump-supply ofliquid,and means controlled by said liquid-level and controlling thenatural-flow supply of liquid.

11. In a liqu1d-levelcontrolling apparatus, the combination of apressure vessel and its liquid-supply conduit adapted to contain varyingrelative pressures, a pump in said conduit, and means controlleddifferentially by the pressures in said vessel and saidconduit forcontrolling the supply of liquid to the pump.

12. Ina liquid-level controller, the combination of apressure vesselhaving a naturalflow liquid-supply conduit, a ump connected with saidvessel for supp ying liquid thereto from the natural-flow conduit,means. controlled by the liquid-level in said chamber and controllingthe pump-supply of liquid, means controlled by'said liquid-level andcontrolling the natural-flow supply of liquid, and a valve controlleddifferentially by the. pressure in said vessel and in said natural-flowsupply-conduit for controlling. the supply to the ump.

13. In a liquidevel controller, the combination of pressure-chambers,one of which has inlets at different levels subject to the liquid to becontrolled, and means controlled differentially by the pressures in saidchambers for controlling one of said inlets independently of the other.

14. In a liquid-level controller, the combination of a pressure vessel,a chamber ha'vin inlets from said vessel at different levels, andliquid-level-controlled means for automaticall closing one of saidinlets during movemen of the liquid-level in one direction anddirection.

15. In a liquid-level controller, the combination of twopressure-chambers, a differential member interposed between the two, andliquid level-controlled means for automatically changing the pressurerelation between said chambers at one level of the liquid, maintainingthe changed relation during a predetermined change in level, andrestoring the original relation at a dfierent level,

whereby said differential member is operated to perform its function.

16. In a liquid-level controller, the combination of twopressure-chambers, a differential member interposed between the two, adi -tube carried by said member, forming an i et from the pressurevessel to be con trolled to one of said chambers and'subject to theliquid-level, a second inlet to said chamber subject to the liquid at adifferent level, and, valve mechanism actuated by movement of thedifferential member for controlling communication between-said diptubeand its said chamber.

17. In a liquid-level controller, the combination of twopressure-chambers, a difierential member between them, a dip tubehavopening it during movement in the opposite ing a threaded adjustingconnection with said member and subject to the liquid-level at its lowerend, said tube having an opening to one of said chambers, an inlet-tothe latter chamber subject to the liquid at a difierent level, and anexternally-accessible tuberotating member having a valve portioncontrollin said opening.

18. n a liquid-level controller, the combination of a ress ure vesselhaving a drainageoutlet, a di erential member controlling said outletand subject on one side to the pressure in said vessel, a chamber forcontaining an opposing ressure having inlets from said vessel atiflerent levels, and valve mechanism actuated by movement of saiddifferential member controlling one of said inlets;

19. In a device of the character specified, the combination of a ressurevessel, a controller actuated accor ing to the liquid-level in saidvessel, a forced-feed device, a by-pass conduit for diverting the feedfrom said vessel, a valve actuated by said controller and controllingthe by-pass, a passage connecting the liquid-space of the pressurevessel with the by-pass at a point antecedent to said valve and adaptedto conduct a liquidoutfiow from the vessel under control of said valve,and means for opening and closing said passage. 1 20. In a liquid-levelcontroller, the combination of a variablelevel chamber, a controlleractuated according to the level in said chamber, a discharge-outlet, avalve controlling said outlet and actuated by said controller, and adischarge-passage leading from said chamber to the valve and of anaperture smaller than that of the discharge-outlet.

In testimony whereof we have affixed our signatures in presence of twoWitnesses.

SIDNEY A. REEVE. EDWARD P. NOYES.

' l/Vitnesses:

R. M. Prnnson, A. O. RATIGAN.

